The effect of selected factors on the content of protein and nitrates in potato tubers

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of region, variety, year and ecological and conventional way of cultivation on the content of total protein and nitrates in potato tubers in three-year field trials. The effects of selected factors on nitrate and protein contents were similar, more significant for nitrates. Growing regions, varieties and years of cultivation caused statistically significant effects whereas the effect of ecological way of cultivation was less pronounced and showed a tendency without significance. Higher region showed lesser average nitrate (113.4 mg/kg) and protein content (4.27% dry matter) in comparison with lower region (143.7 mg/kg and 4.72% dry matter). The highest nitrate content was found in Impala and Karin varieties (199.2 and 167.6 mg/kg); Karin variety was also rich in total proteins (4.86% dry matter). Ecological way of cultivation showed no significant difference on nitrate content (136.9 mg/kg) and protein content (4.41%) as compared with conventional way of cultivation (153.9 mg/kg, 4.32%).